Pondering Beauty

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Saga, Suspense and Fiction (Collection Avant-Première de Chanel)

2013-05-29T10:45:00.001-04:00

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine L-R: Saga, Suspense, Fiction

I'm staring down at the dozen swatches I have on my arm of the various Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks I have on hand and it makes me pleased about the selection I've made from the Avant-Première collection. The three I picked: Saga, Suspense and Fiction, are definitely different from my old ones. Swatched together, all my old Rouge Coco Shines suddenly look brown.

Swatches L-R: Saga, Suspense, Fiction

Number 79 Saga is described as a pink but swatched on my fair inner arm, I'm seeing peach. Number 80 Suspense was supposed to be a fuschia. Ok, I'll grant them that. It's fuschia but with a raspberry shimmer. Only makes it better, in my opinion. And then there's number 81 Fiction. Is it plum or is it red? I call it plum cherry. It's scary dark in the tube but applies bright and sheer, with hints of purple and red.

These three new ones are a serious pop of color. The pigment is more intense (30% more, according to Lisa Eldridge in one of her videos for Chanel where she puts on Suspense) but it's the same buttery smooth formula I've come to adore. I decided against the individual pictures because it seems the colors are clearer when they appear in contrast with other shades. Most of the photographs appear in the left to right sequence of Saga, Suspense and Fiction, unless otherwise labelled.

While there are eight new Rouge Coco Shine shades in this collection, there are also six Rouge Coco lipsticks and four nail colors, one of which is a repromote. Sometimes it bothers me that Chanel releases these in between collections as I never know what season to file them under. (Does anybody else think they've gone overboard with the number of collections they release in a year? It's like, grab a theme and release 12 new colors!) But I suppose this one can be considered complementary to summer, the focus being on lips and nails.

Top to bottom: Fiction, Suspense and Saga

I haven't decided on a favorite and I'm not certain whether or not I'll be getting any of the other colors (probably not. I can only use so much lipstick in a season) but once I pick one out, you'll be the first to know.

Guerlain Terracotta Make-Up Palette for Face and Eyes

2013-05-18T19:07:00.002-04:00

When I purchase makeup, I try to get items that just came out. New things. It's not that I have anything against old things and I do have staples in my collection that I repurchase even when newer items come out. It's just that I'm afraid to fall in love with an item, attempt to repurchase, only to find out that it's been discontinued. It drives me crazy not to be able to find it! But over and above being the latest release, what makes a feature even more urgent is when it's an outstanding value. Case in point, the Guerlain Terracotta (La Sélection de L'Été) Makeup Palette for Face and Eyes.

Guerlain makes top of the line bronzers but a compact can easily run you over $50. An eyeshadow quad, also in a compact, is now $60. When did this happen? I'm not so sure when prices went up again but that's the direction that they inevitably go. Never lower, just higher and higher. For $62, you can have your bronzer, in two shades, and four colors of eyeshadow. You get it in a mirrored compact with a bronzer applicator and one sponge-tipped eyeshadow applicator and a velvet pouch. The packaging is plastic but seems reasonably sturdy, isn't difficult to open or close and looks elegant enough to carry the Guerlain name.

Nordstrom started carrying this palette fairly recently although I'm led to believe that it has been out for a couple of years now in the Asian market. Duty-free hounds are bound to have come across it in the past. While it's definitely made for summer (hello, it's bronzer), I don't see why the color selection wouldn't work year-round.

The majority of the bronzer is on the light side, which works very well for the fair-skinned. There is, however, a small strip in a slightly darker shade, which makes this adaptable to more medium-skinned users or if you like something to sort of contour. I'm not big on contouring and there isn't such a huge difference in the shades but I won't complain about having the option to get things a little warmer. There's also a noticeable shimmer when you look at it in the pan in sunlight but this does not translate to anything ridiculous and shiny on the face.

Bronzer swatches above left: dark strip, right: lighter section

The eyeshadows? Winner! It's a versatile combo of gold, taupe, khaki and bronze. I use the colors to describe them loosely although the shades do not appear to be named. (Alternately, you can call them pale gold, rosy taupe beige, golden olive and shimmery warm brown.) The khaki is the real money-maker here and I wish I'd gotten a big square pan of that instead of the gold, which doesn't seem to be of the same quality as the rest of the colors. The gold doesn't adhere as well and has a little grit but the rest of the shades are stellar.

L-R: bronze, taupe, khaki, gold

Although I don't usually care to rate applicators (and I won't discuss the sponge-tip because I always remove those and almost never use them), I'd like to mention the bronzer brush that comes with this palette. It's useable! This is amazing to me since every Guerlain brush I've bought has been a total fail. Mostly to do with color-bleeding, foul odors and shedding. This surprisingly works and does not have any of those problems. But if you want to take it along, you'll have to pack it in the velvet pouch which unfortunately is a real dust-magnet. Anyway, you'll figure something out if you really want to use it. None of that takes away from the fact that this is a well-put together palette of practical colors that move day to night in any season for a fraction of what the brand's makeup usually costs. If I didn't have a whole filing cabinet's worth of makeup, I would buy another one, right now. Ebates is offering 14% cashback on purchases from Nordstrom.com only until Monday, May 20th. Link, buy, love. You're going to be happy.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Pygmalion

2013-05-17T10:30:00.002-04:00

I suppose most people reacted to Chanel's summer collection favorably but I found myself not entirely sure if I wanted to pick up anything. The eyeshadow sticks, while most interesting, had me a little worried about possible skin reactions as I'd heard at least one case of an allergic take to the cooling effect. Truthfully, I've probably reached the saturation point when it comes to the sticks. But as I continue to mull over purchasing Moon River, I thought you might like to see what I did pick out from the collection.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Pygmalion

The Chanel Rouge Coco Shine line is probably my current favorite line of sheer lipsticks. I like the size and look of the tube, and more importantly, I like the formula. I find that it slicks on very easily but being sheer, it's not hard to apply. You can dab on here and there even without a mirror. True, it doesn't last all day long but I'm not a big fan of long lasting formulas. I do like to be able to remove everything over the course of the day and reapply a fresh coat or two.

Just to refresh you memory, it is a sheer lipstick. To get to the color intensity of the swatch below took ten swipes of product across my inner arm. On the lips, I didn't swipe it quite as many times but I do like to put on a lot.

Sometimes Pygmalion comes off more of a sheer raspberry on my lips. When I tried it in the store, the stain it left my lips seemed a little more coral but when I took it home and wore it again, I got more raspberry. In my pictures, it seems to catch more of the coral so it's more interesting than it seems. It interacts with the natural color of your lips so I imagine it will look different on everyone. It looks different on me, depending on what my lips looked like naturally before I'd put it on and depending on what I'm wearing as well. But I find that a few layers gives me rich color payoff and shine. It brightens in the best way possible. So far, Pygmalion is the prime candidate for lipstick I most often carry in my purse. I think this will prove true throughout the summer as well.

Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Pink Dusk

2013-05-16T09:54:00.001-04:00

Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Pink Dusk

Laura Mercier's Crème Smooth Lip Colour Line launched in time for fall last year didn't strike a positive note with me upon release. I just didn't like the thick texture at the time. However, my last Laura makeover didn't seem complete without grabbing a new lip product so I picked one out that I thought I could use through the spring. The color is Pink Dusk.

I admit I got some use out of it particularly during some weekend trips and it showed up well in plenty of photographs. It's a medium pink by all respects but as I tend to pile it on, it does come off slightly more fuschia on me. It becomes the focal point of any look I top with it and that suits me fine. In the past, I would have been all over this formula but I've come to embrace the sheer lipsticks that have been spawning like crazy the past couple of years. I find those easier to carry in the purse. This one has loads of color and if I had the time, I would meticulously apply it in the morning before I leave the house. But the control-freak in me doesn't want to spend too much time touching up lipstick. The swipe and go option you have with a sheerer formula suits me better throughout the day.

All said, it's a reasonably moisturizing formula. It clings to dry spots like many lipsticks do so I recommend a good lip prep. Once on, I find that it lasts a few hours and leaves a slight stain. There are over 30 shades to choose from, all with that rich and creamy texture. To compare, I find that it's not as creamy as Burberry's Soft Satin Lipstick but it seems slightly smoother and possibly shinier in finish. The packaging is also similar to Burberry's, being boxy and all, just without the magnet closure. Each tube of the Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour retails for $26.00, a couple bucks more than the other lipstick lines within the brand but you do get the same amount of product.

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in 398 Lilac Colorvision

2013-04-11T15:57:00.002-04:00

Described on the Sephora website as a soft pastel purple, I couldn't help but reach for the bottle of Lilac when I reached the nearest Sephora store. It feels strange to say this, but I walked in there with a 15% off VIB coupon and nothing concrete in mind to buy. I was disappointed that the discount was a mere 15% when Ulta gave 20% off just a few weeks ago. I had bought some staples there and was counting on the Sephora coupon to browse brands like Guerlain, NARS and Dior. How I wish the summer stuff had been released already but I needed to content myself with spring items, hence the acquisition of yet another purple nail polish. (To see a few similar colors from the lilac/lavender family, click here.)

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer Lilac Colorvision

Admittedly, Lilac turned out to be the prettiest version of lilac that I owned. Rarely would I wear the same color on tips and toes but what the heck. A nearby nail salon was offering a mani/pedi for $35 (a deal in this day and age, in this country!) so I jumped at the chance to not have to do it myself. I also bought Dior's Gel Coat, which promises superior shine that's comparable to a gel manicure. I love a good shiny manicure but would never try gel. Between the process being damaging to nails and the UV exposure, there was enough for me not to want to bite. Besides, I remove my manicure within 5 days so there is simply no point in it lasting longer.

I understand that Lilac is new to the US market for spring and it is a Sephora exclusive at this time. I'm happy with the color. It applies well, is beautifully opaque in two coats and hopefully will last me the full five days that I need it to. The Gel Coat top coat is shiny, perhaps not exceptionally so, and seems to be a thicker consistency so that it dried on my nails without reaching the tips. Is that strange? I just know I'm going to get tip wear faster because the tips of my nails aren't coated. The pictures may not show it well, or at all, but there it is.

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer Lilac Colorvision

I love wearing purple nail polish although I do worry about how a very pastel version looks against certain colors. I imagine I'll be wearing plenty in the pink and purple family at least for the next week in an attempt not to clash. But I might be convinced that lilac is the new beige.

UPDATE: Thinking about it later in the day, Dior's Gel Coat reminds me of CND's Super Shiney Top Coat but is not superior to it. At most maybe at par. However, with the price difference, I am not likely to repurchase Dior.

UPDATE 4/20/13: Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in Lilac Colorvision passed the 5-day test with flying colors. No chips, just a few scratches here and there. Despite not having the tips coated well, I did not get terrible tip wear. Sure, it showed some signs of wear by the third day but it wasn't so bad that it got me itching to remove it like I thought it would. This is testament to the wonderful formula of Dior's nail polish, I think, and not so much a result of using their Gel Coat Top Coat. I don't regret having purchased the top coat and will be using it on subsequent nail work to get the lovely shiny finish but as I've said previously, I am not likely to repurchase it.

Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner in Violet

2013-03-28T16:23:00.000-04:00

So my weekend test drive of the Petite Portfolio from Laura Mercier turned out well. I suppose I overpacked, like always. If I packed only what I truly needed to use, there was certainly enough room in there. I didn't even use the gel eyeliner that I took with me because I used the pencil, smudged then topped with liquid eyeliner. I really like my Lancome Artliner and I find that when I have that in front of me, I will inevitably use it, especially if I'm in a hurry.

Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner - $22

On a very recent makeover with a Laura Mercier artist, she used the brand's new Crème Eye Liner in Noir to tightline and with the new Angled Eye Liner Brush, she added a quick layer of Violet above the lashline but just on the outer half of the eyelid. I liked the look I ended up with that day and decided to purchase Violet but not Noir. I also got the brush but I'll talk about that more another day.

Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner in Violet

The Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner in Violet is just the shade of violet that I wanted. Applied, it's dark enough to outline your peepers much like a black would, but gives that subtle pop of color that's perfect for spring. The texture is very creamy, unlike most cream or gel liners that I've had the chance to use in the past. I suspect that this creamy texture contributes to one of the selling points I was given, that the product does not dry out. However, I think it's too early for anyone to make that claim since no one person has had the Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner for years.

I find this ultra-creamy texture doesn't actually improve the formula but makes it more difficult for me to use. It's hard to gauge how much product you're getting with each dip of the brush. I inevitably end up with too much every time. What's more, it takes forever to dry on the lid. Put on a thick line and if you open up your eyes too soon, it will transfer to your upper lid. If you want to put on successive coats, you'll want each coat to be really dry or it will pull color off of the previous layer that you've put on. Hard to build, in my opinion, only because of the long wait time between coats. Definitely not for the woman in a rush.

Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner in Violet

For tightlining, I've found this product to be massively annoying to use. It gets messy if you have too much product on the brush. Try it on the waterline? I think not. This wouldn't last the day. The good news is, as my clumsy application technique once again resulted in having gotten some eye liner on my contact lens, I was able to rub it off with just a little solution and effort. I credit the long drying time to the ease of removal. Because it hadn't really dried on the lens yet, I could rub it off more easily.

One other piece of good news, if you can look past my other complaints, is that once the Crème Eye Liner has dried, it has excellent lasting power. It survived a 15-hour day outdoors easy-peasy. Not a smudge and no fading whatsoever. Prepare to bust out the waterproof eye makeup remover though. At the end of the day, it's the only thing that will get it off completely.

The Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner currently comes in 6 shades: Canard, Cobalt, Espresso, Indigo, Noir and Violet. Lovely as the colors are, I don't think I would be purchasing more because I find other eyeliners easier to use. This is all a matter of what you're used to though, and what you generally like. Even buying the Angled Eye Liner Brush did not improve the experience for me. I guess deep down, I'm really a pencil liner gal.

UPDATE: To replicate the look done on my Laura Mercier makeover, I used my Lancome Artliner in Noir as a base layer for the Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner in Violet and it worked really well. My final conclusion is that if you want real depth to the color, you still need to tightline with black and have a layer of black liner underneath Violet. This prevents Violet from looking patchy even when you put on a few layers without waiting for them to dry and makes it look darker. Using the Laura Mercier Angled Eye Liner Brush and dipping it ever so lightly into the pot, just get the tiniest amount of product that you can use above the lashline. It works for winged looks too but I'm not convinced that it's a good choice for tightlining.

Laura Mercier Custom Artist Portfolio - Petite (for home and away)

2013-03-22T18:28:00.001-04:00

The first Laura Mercier Custom Artist Portolio that I purchased was such a joy that I couldn't help purchasing the petite version. My reasoning: the large portfolio is great for a weeklong trip or longer but possibly too much makeup for a weekend. Wanting a smaller version that occupies less space in an overnighter, the Petite Portfolio seemed a wise choice.

Although I like that this portfolio is brown with a thin wale kind of pinstripe texture, the surface seems to attract moisture and prints more than the faux snakeskin of the original portfolio. Size-wise, it's not quite half the size of the original, possibly a little bigger, the dimensions falling in at roughly about 9" x 6" x 2.75". Inside you will find two removable zippered mesh bags that are magnetized to the back of the case and a non-removable, double-sided brush page with pockets. They've also thrown in one customizable three-well compact. In overall concept, it's very similar to the original portfolio, down to the zippered hard shell case.

I managed to fill up the mesh bags with various Laura Mercier makeup to test its capacity. On one side, I put in three full-size lip glosses, 2 lipsticks and a powder compact.

On the other mesh bag, I put in a 6-well custom compact and two 3-well ones under it.

Then I filled up the brush page with a tiny foundation brush, random eye brushes on one side and three face brushes on the side without the cover flap.

Then came the problem. Would. Not. Close. I mean, I probably could close it with a fair bit of effort, squishing all the contents and possibly ruining a brush or two. But I'm not going to do that.

Carefully examining what I might truly want on hand for a weekend trip, I refilled the bags. This time, I went with an eye and cheek palette, 3 Caviar Sticks, a tube of mascara, one pot of gel eyeliner, 2 vials of foundation product and a sponge in one mesh bag.

On the other bag, I placed one concealer compact, one bronzer compact, one tube of lipstick, a lip pencil, brow pencil and eye pencil. I gathered up 4 eye brushes, 2 of which are dual-ended, a blush brush and a large angled powder brush and stuck them all on only one side of the brush page. I opted to use the side without the cover flap and selected brushes that would be short enough not to reach the top of the page. Set up this way, I could close the Petite Portfolio without difficulty although there really isn't room for anything else. (I've since reexamined this arrangement and decided to put the largest brush into the left-hand side mesh bag and move the rest of the brushes to the side with the cover flap. I also added two concealer brushes to the mix. Not visible, I have a sample packet of foundation primer in one of the pockets.)

I'm going to take the refilled portfolio on my next weekend trip and see if I found myself needing things I couldn't fit in there or if I still packed too much. If you asked me today, I think the Petite Portfolio is just a wee bit too small. If they were going with a dual-sided brush page, I felt that the outer case could use a quarter to a half an inch extra width. Or maybe make the brush page removable like the original portfolio's brush page. As it is, I've had to transfer foundation and tinted moisturizer to sample vials and I would have preferred to have an actual tube or two on hand. I also wanted to take along the new Laura Mercier Crème Eye Liner but the pot was a bit too thick so instead I had to grab a L'Oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner whose pot was a little smaller. I carry a tube of lipstick, compact powder, a pen concealer and powder brush in my purse so this isn't necessarily all the makeup I carry for a weekend. I know I have a ridiculous amount of makeup and I like to have options so perhaps some serious and thoughtful editing is all I need to make this Petite Portfolio work perfectly for me.

The Laura Mercier Custom Artist Portfolio - Petite (for home and away) retails for $68 and is available online and at most Laura Mercier counters.

Deconstructing The Hairbrush

2013-02-28T20:22:00.000-05:00

Late last year, I decided to do a revamp of the tools and products I used on my hair. If you caught the feature I did on some Conair hair dryers last October, that was just a part of the process. I inspected every gadget that I owned: curling irons, flat irons, a hair setter and a slew of hair brushes and combs. I sorted all the hair products, tossed things that were old or past their date, and then I went about to get a little advice on what I should be using and what I didn't need. The thing is, I don't style my hair very often. I generally keep it long but on a typical day, I just pull it back into a pony tail. The priority is to keep frizz at bay and to tame flyaways.

Growing up, I relied on Denman hairbrushes. It wasn't a decision I arrived at after much deliberation. My sister used to buy them, so I did too. The oldest hairbrush I have that's still functional is one I'd bought about eight years back, the Denman Classic Noir Styling Brush D3BW, which is a black and white version of the original D3 classic styling brush with 7 rows of nylon pins.

Denman Classic Noir Styling Brush D3BW

It's a perfectly good all-purpose hairbrush that you can also use to style the hair with heat. But admittedly, it's a bit small for my needs. It may be better suited to shorter hairstyles (like a bob) and the curve makes it great for rounding those bottoms perfectly.

I buy new brushes and combs periodically but never armed with the research I had when I placed my order with Folica (all the brushes featured here, except for the Chi, are available on their website). I bought a bunch of brushes and after going through some of them, I thought it would be good to outline my thoughts on each one. So here are a few things I've learned along the way in this hair experiment, and a few hairbrushes you may want to consider getting next time.

The Mason Pearson with the oval cushion is perhaps the most celebrated hair brush among the ones I've read about. But really, I cannot justify spending a hundred dollars on one. I did try a couple of inexpensive substitutes, neither of which had me jumping up and down with enthusiasm.

Spornette 21 Classic Cushion Stylish Oval with nylon bristles

Sonia Kashuk Hair Brush (large)

Sonia Kashuk Hair Brush with boar and nylon bristles

According to a brief hairbrush guide I found in an old issue of Allure magazine (Aug 2012, page 94), an oval-cushioned brush is designed for detangling dry hair and the bristles are supposedly great for making hair shiny. But in the end, because my hair is really long and thick, I feel that this isn't a very good style of hairbrush for me.

I have fantasies of giving myself beautifying blowouts in the comfort of my own bathroom so I purchased a wooden round Spornette. I think they're great to use while blow-drying and are quite affordable. The boar bristles grab hold of the hairs very well while the longer nylon bristles can reach deeper into the hair when needed. Although I never quite end up with Disney Princess hair, I know it's not the fault of the brush. I just don't have the skills or the patience. But I'm glad I got this handy tool. Someday I'll get there.

Spornette G 36 XL Porcupine Brush

boar with nylon bristles

One time, I latched on to the Chi bandwagon and armed with a 20% coupon at Ulta, I thought I'd pick up one of these ceramic round brushes. The idea here is that if you use it while blowdrying, the barrel heats up like an iron. I thought that this was meant to give volume and curl but I'm not sure I could achieve anything at all using this brush. When I dig a little too deep in, the bristles kind of hurt too. Perhaps again, it's my lack of skills but I have a hard time using this brush. It doesn't hold on to the hair the way I want it to and I much prefer the Spornette. However, I have seen a stylist at Sweet & Sassy use a similar kind of brush to blowdry my daughter's hair (her hair is finer, not anywhere near as thick as mine and falls just past the shoulders). While not designed for fine or fragile hair, I think it does help speed up the drying process with medium hair.

Chi Turbo CB02 Ceramic Round Nylon Brush

nylon bristles and a ceramic barrel

If static is a problem, the large-vented Static-Free Fast Flo by Cricket is very comfortable to use. I've found that it works well on both thin and thick hair of any length. I have a large one for myself and a little one that's probably designed for the purse but which I've designated for my little girl.

Cricket Fast Flo and Mini Fast Flo

Detangling wet hair, now that's a challenge I have with my daughter's hair. I personally use a wide-toothed comb if I must detangle my hair while wet but I rarely have to do this. With a 6 year old girl, detangling at night after washing helps speed up our mornings. From what I've read, a rectangular paddle brush should do the trick. But you know what? I really don't get paddle brushes. They never work for me. Although the ball-ended nylon pins feel good against the scalp, I find the shape weird when brushing hair even when the cushion is well-padded. I've tried a few and didn't particularly care for any of them. I'll take the comb anytime.

Denman D83 Large Paddle Brush

ball-ended nylon pins and air-cushioned natural rubber pad

For the 6 year old? I have another set for you to peruse.

Knot Genie Teeny Genie Detangling Brush

The Knot Genie - oh so awesome! The Teeny Genie is so much fun for the little one when she attempts to brush her own hair. The size and shape are easy for smaller hands to grasp. Plus it works surprisingly well. The combination of long and short teeth doesn't stress the hair. With some help from a spray detangler, those tangles get straightened out in record time. I paid a little more for it because I just bought it at the salon and didn't bother looking around for a deal but it's worth having for sure.

Denman D90 Pink Tangle Tamer

If you want a slightly more "normal-looking" brush that works similarly, Denman's Tangle Tamer has soft bristles (also a combination of long and short) and it can be used on wet or dry hair. The round padded cushion is also better suited to the style of my daughter's hair so I can curve the ends in after brushing it all out.

Which brings me back to the classic half-round brush that remains my favorite hairbrush of all time. If I've learned anything, for general-purpose hair brushing, I prefer nylon bristles spaced farther apart for my hair type and length. So, I decided to go for the Denman D41 Large 9 Row Volumizing Brush. I grab the brush, get the tangles out and neatly brush my hair back into my everyday ponytail. After 20 years, I say this style of hairbrush is still what I want. The big one for the vanity and the little one for the purse.

Denman D41 Large 9 Row Volumizing Brush

Denman D14 Small 5 Row Classic Styling Brush

Size and Bristle Placement Comparison at a glance
L-R: Denman D41- 9 Row, Denman D3BW - 7 Row, Denman D14 - 5 Row

All the Denman brushes I have are well-made and they last me years. They are ridiculously easy to use and also simple to care for. If you want to wash your brushes super thoroughly, the anti-static rubber pad can be pushed out from the handle and brushed clean. I use shampoo and an old child's toothbrush. After they are dry, you can slide them back into the handle. Some of the brushes fit extra snugly in there and I've found that the tiniest bit of baby oil can help slide them in faster. Most of the time though, I don't have any issues.

Denman Hair Brush disassembled

Sliding the rubber pad back into the handle

I do have a few other hairbrushes in my collection, like a smaller wooden round with boar bristles that I use specifically to straighten out some cowlicks by the hairline, some rat tail combs to part hair properly when attempting certain styles and I bought a Denman Thermoceramic Straightening Brush which I am now absolutely certain I don't need because I have straight hair but I have it. However, this post is quite long enough for me not to have to go into detail about every single brush and comb I have. Truthfully, I probably have a salon's worth of hair stuff to work with that it seems a pity I stick to a pony tail on a fairly regular basis. But I've heard that the pony tail has made such a bigtime comeback that someone's just opened a Pony Tail Bar. I think I need to find the closest one and see if I can get an appointment.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in 956 Eggplant

2013-02-21T09:05:00.000-05:00

I never thought that I asked much of my eyeliner but after testing a whole slew of them lately, I realize that I'm actually quite picky. I was reasonably happy with the L'Oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner of which I've reviewed Blackest Black and Navy. However, L'Oreal doesn't have a purple in its lineup. I was attracted by the prospect of a beautiful aubergine from Maybelline although I was disappointed that this shade had a lot more brown to it than violet.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Eggplant

The claims are not completely unusual. It can create an intense line that is smudgeproof and waterproof and lasts for 24 hours. I refuse to keep it on for that long but a whole day's wear proved quite enough for me. The product is packaged with a brush that is functional but you may be used to a different type of brush for applying such a product. It says on the back of the package that you should wipe the brush clean with a dry tissue and close the cap tightly after each use. Does that mean it doesn't need to be washed? Good heavens, no! Anything that is used on the eye area, particularly on a non-powder product, I think, needs to be washed after every use. There's just no excuse for leaving it unwashed.

The Maybelline website says that it is "contact lens safe" and it is supposedly ophthalmologist-tested safe for sensitive eyes. But it does irritate my eyes a little bit. Contact lens safe? No no no! Your lenses are so not safe from this formula. I was so upset that first time I used this product because I got the tiniest particle rub onto one lens and I could not get it off. I used up almost a half a bottle of solution trying to gently rub it off to no avail. I had to throw it out and get a new one.

It's almost unfair but I had a poor experience with this product that I will not be buying other shades for sure. I know that I need to be much more careful during application and I need to stay as far away as I can from the eye. That means I can't use it for tightlining. It works alright above the lashline and it can be winged out nicely but that's probably all I'm going to use it for.

Mascara Quicknotes V: multi-tasking mascaras

2013-02-18T17:41:00.000-05:00

Mascara samples are probably some of the more commonly given away samples at every department store. While it's easy to create a little sample jar of foundation or moisturizer, most GWPs throw in a tiny mascara to add value. They're great when you really just want to try something new. In the last few years, I've been a little overwhelmed by the number of releases and have already thrown away samples that have been discontinued even before I got a chance to try them. This year, I'm determined that that's not going to happen.

Choose a brush L-R:
Guerlain Noir G, Benefit They're Real!, Sephora Collection Full Action Extreme Effect

I picked these mascaras to feature together as they all seem to make similar promises of added volume, length and curl. Seems reasonable to expect the perfect mascara from this bunch, no? When a mascara claims to basically do it all, I'm here to listen.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara ($23) - promises length, volume, lifting, curling and separation of lashes in a glossy, long-wearing formula. While I didn't get much volume from this, Benefit gets extra points for a really creative brush that has bristles all the way to the tip. I thought at first that this was going to be my dream mascara. It combines the best of your regular plastic brush with a ball tip like Givenchy's. It defines superbly but those tips are sharp! I feel like I'm hurting myself a little with each stroke that gets close to the roots. I'll say there's definite promise here if I can start with a volumizing mascara first. Benefit does lift and separate and the brush holds off clumps but when used by itself, I find that it takes a long time to thicken each lash. As far as the brand goes, however, this may be their best mascara. It's the only one that doesn't smudge on me.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Sephora Collection Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara $15 - the least expensive of the bunch, this boasts a seven in one formula that volumizes, lengthens, curves, separates, strengthens, protects and nourishes lashes. I find it hard to believe that it's supposed to do all these as this mascara barely does anything for me when I use it by itself. No added volume or length was noticeable. It just darkened the lashes a little but the effect is super natural that I may as well not be wearing any mascara.

Sephora Collection Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara

The brush isn't hard to use but doesn't seem particularly effective in doling out the product or it could be that the formula is simply too thin to do anything. With a day's wear, I was left with raccoon eyes. However, I found it interesting that when I used this combined with two other mascaras (I try layering each formula and using each one by itself), this made for a really good middle mascara. That is, I use a volumizing mascara first, define and de-clump a little with this as a second layer, and then I define further and lengthen with Benefit They're Real! as a third layer. Works super well! I think it's that the brush does separate lashes decently. I just don't like using it by itself.

Noir G de Guerlain Exceptional Complete Mascara

Noir G de Guerlain Exceptional Complete Mascara $49 - the jewel case version is the $49 one and it is refillable, the only one that I know is. It gives volume, length and curl and promises no smearing, smudging or clumping. The formula also contains a keratin-stimulating ingredient which should help regenerate lashes. Refills are $26. Mine is a sample mini.

I'm still not sure how I feel about this mascara on the whole. It seems I have a different experience with it everytime. The first time I used it, I thought it was the best of this bunch when used by itself. Subsequent uses saw me taking back that assessment as I started to experience uneven application and mild clumping. And naturally, because it's Guerlain, it's scented, which may or may not put you off.

While it's not a bad mascara, I have a hard time swallowing the humongous price tag when it falls short of perfection. I do see some volume and possibly a little length but it's not very good at defining lashes. When I attempted to use it in conjunction with the other mascaras in this review, it didn't work very well as a base layer, a middle layer or a top layer. If anything, it was better by itself. As I had just reviewed the Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara, I can't help but compare. While I didn't think that Maxi Lash was all that, it made an excellent base layer mascara and I use it constantly for that purpose. I would love to see the full effect of the keratin-stimulating ingredient in it but I don't think I'm going to get reliable results with a sample mini.

Chanel Liquid Eyeliner in 20 Platine and 30 Purple

2013-02-15T10:20:00.001-05:00

Chanel Liquid Eyeliner in Platine

Many times in the past, I had thought about buying a new liquid eyeliner from Chanel. I had stopped myself because I try my best to buy new products instead of old ones and these weren't out yet (the idea of loving something that was going to be discontinued soon means setting myself up for eventual heartbreak) and the Chanel associate that I used to buy the products from, she wasn't a big liquid eyeliner fan.

It's not for everyone, I suppose. Liquid eyeliner has its uses and I've turned to liquid for beautiful bold lines, a winged look here and there and the occasional super fast tightline. I bought two shades, both lovely to the core, the golden taupe metallic Platine and that sort of burgundy meets eggplant Purple that I've been wanting for ages. I didn't realize then that this was a love story that was going to fizzle out completely.

Above, Chanel Liquid Eyeliner in Platine

Above, Chanel Liquid Eyeliner in Purple

As it turned out, these are quite different from the old Chanel liquid eyeliners. I have difficulty using liquid eyeliner that has a floppy brush. I'm used to the Lancome Artliner which has a pointy rubber applicator instead of a soft brush at the end. I find Chanel's new eyeliner incredibly difficult to control. I wanted so much to follow the instructions for a natural look (see the instructions on the photo below) but because the brush is soft, I can't seem to neatly put the product in place. It makes a mess everytime. Maybe it's me and I'm not used to it but it just doesn't work for me.

Instuctions for the Natural Look

Swatches in sunlight: left, Purple; right, Platine

Swatches in artificial indirect lighting: left, Purple; right, Platine

The texture and formula of the two colors are different. The metallic one, Platine, has a little more grit while Purple is smooth to apply. Platine applies patchy and requires a good number of layers to show up. It was disappointing because I adored the color especially when swatched under the sun. It was easier to make the color appear on the Purple one but the drying time was too long for me. Despite loving both colors then, it was a product that I knew I wasn't ever going to reach for. There are other liquid eyeliners and other forms of eyeliner that are easier for me to handle. While I've loved a lot of Chanel makeup in recent years, these new eyeliners are too troublesome for me.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Grey Pearl

2013-02-08T18:17:00.000-05:00

How do you look in taupe eyeshadow? I know there's a taupe-lovin' club out there and Laura Mercier has an offer for you. The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Grey Pearl.

Grey Pearl is one more color just released by the brand for spring. Sephora does not sell this shade at this time (and I'm not sure they ever will) but you can easily locate it at the nearest Laura Mercier counter at your favorite department store. I've gotten the four shades sold by Sephora and of the other four sold by Neiman Marcus (including Mint Snow, Seashell and Pink Opal), Grey Pearl was the only one I felt like getting. While I usually do an ensemble feature, this ended up being a solo as I foresee that this will be the last one that I will be buying for now.

Grey Pearl has its fair share of brown and grey but it's that pearly finish that changes the shade so much in the light. It reflects light incredibly and might look a little different in pictures than in person. I thought I'd compare it to Clinique's Lots O' Latte, which I talked about yesterday. While similar, you can see that Grey Pearl is slightly more grey. A key difference though is that while I blended these out a little bit (see the swatch below), that's 8 swipes of the Clinique product compared to two swipes of Laura Mercier. So while rather lightly-pigmented for a Laura Mercier Caviar Stick, it still fares better than the Clinique Chubby Stick when it comes to richness in color.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Grey Pearl

The stick itself is creamy like other Caviar Sticks and it's easy to apply and blend. I did have to put more layers with this than with other shades in the line but the color is definitely nicely buildable. I've found that building up thin layers (adding another if necessary after blending out the first coat with a brush) works to keep creasing at bay. I get such longevity from this product. It's well-suited to long days but comes off cleanly with a waterproof eye makeup remover. I liked the end-look here (worn with an aubergine eyeliner and a little mascara) and Grey Pearl will come in handy for when I need to do a quick and lightly shimmery smoky taupe look.

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes (lots o' latte and ample amber)

2013-02-07T14:32:00.002-05:00

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes
02 lots o' latte (top) and 04 ample amber (bottom)

Four quick swipes patted down with the ring finger will get you out the door faster than you can say Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes in lots o' latte and ample amber. Seriously, if you find that you're always in a rush, this product might become your new best friend.

As I read The Non Blonde's review of the shade Lavish Lilac (read here), I found myself nodding at pretty much everything she said. Despite being different shades, they seem to exhibit quite the same qualities and follow a similar trend. Yes, I do think the eyeshadow crayon has become something of a trend these days. I've picked up quite a number of them in recent weeks and found renewed interest in the Clinique counter because of the chubby sticks (for lips and eyes).

Finding a shade I didn't already own and might actually use was more challenging, despite the generous 12-shade offering. Fearing a rather sheer quality, I picked out colors that I thought would make an easy lid wash and I was glad that I did. Ample Amber turned out to be just the color I had hoped it would be. Somewhat peachy and lightly golden, it blends beautifully with warm complexions. I wouldn't be surprised if this turned out to be the color most sales associates would point to when asked for a recommendation.

Left: ample amber, Right: lots o' latte

Lots O' Latte is a pale taupey mocha. In certain lighting, I suspected it would be more taupe but once I'd compared it to other taupes, it came off slightly more tan. While I prefer the look of Ample Amber as an allover lid color, a touch of Lots O' Latte on the outer corner and crease didn't hurt to give the look a little dimension. Emphasis on the word little, as this is also very mildly pigmented. I kind of wonder if I would have done better with Fuller Fudge.

On the question of longevity and creasing, while I did not experience any creasing while wearing these (also likely due to the very thin layers applied), I should note that these fade away to nothing by day's end. A quick check in the mirror as I got home showed a hint of sparkle but no color left. And here I was worried about what makeup remover to use. (I'm sure whatever you have is fine.)

Although I love the idea of an automatic eyeshadow crayon (no need to sharpen, yey!), for fun eye effects, I would skip the Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes. These are clearly meant for the woman on the go, who doesn't necessarily need to get creative with her eye makeup. I imagine there's a way, and you need to truly get creative to get there. But don't let go of the eyeliner just yet. With these shadow tints, you'll still need it and a healthy dose of mascara.

To create the swatches above, I needed to swipe the stick 8 times over the same spot. I could get the same density of color with one swipe of a Laura Mercier Caviar Stick. For saturated color and a gorgeous smoky eye, I'd still turn to Laura Mercier. Admittedly though, $16 for a full ounce of product seems quite the deal; until you figure in the fact that you would use at least four times more product to get the same effect. Still, if you like your eye colour to be subtle and goofproof, the Chubby Sticks might be the thing for you. No powder necessary.

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in 60 Soft Raspberry

2013-02-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's not a Clinique Chubby Stick but the Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick. Mine comes in the shade Soft Raspberry, number 60.

If you wondered about the roses in the background, I thought it would make a nice change from the plain white, grey or beige that I normally use. My husband had run out one Sunday afternoon to pick up a few items from Costco and came home with flowers. Not quite Valentine's Day yet but the gesture was much appreciated. The blooms have lasted a week and a half now. There is at least one perfect rose remaining to this day.

But anyway, I think it's nice that drugstore brands have upped their game that a product like this is definitely comparable to something twice the price or more. Neutrogena has done a nice job of creating this twist up lip color that is easy to apply and will never need sharpening. It's everything a chubby lip pencil is supposed to be.

While I expected sheer color, as that was my experience with Clinique, I found that Neutrogena's take is actually a lot more pigmented and buildable. Soft Raspberry comes off rosy and pinkish with hints of brown and a very soft pearlized finish. It complements my natural lip color very well. It can be applied to look natural or you can add a few extra layers to look a little more done up. I don't think adding more product necessarily makes it more moisturizing but I don't find it to be drying.

Neutrogena's MoistureSmooth Color Sticks have decent lasting power and don't feel heavy on the lips. If I could change anything, I wish they did without the fruity fragrance which does bother me somewhat. But if not for that, I would be tempted to grab a few more shades.

Guerlain Les Voilettes Mineral Invisible Skin-Fusion Loose Powder

2013-02-05T15:11:00.001-05:00

I am trying to figure out why I haven't yet reviewed this product as I've been using it a lot. I figured it was probably because I couldn't really figure out what to say about it that wasn't new or didn't sound overindulgent. Guerlain's Les Voilettes Mineral Invisible Skin-Fusion Loose Powder is quite simply loose powder that you would use to set your foundation and for the occasional touch up.

That it's a mineral powder sometimes conjures images of Bare Minerals but I beg you to think of this as your everyday loose powder with healthy minerals and not a mineral powder foundation. It does not offer coverage. What it does give is a light mattifying veil to blot out shine without caking or looking mask-like. Like all Guerlain powders, it feels good against the skin and is imbued with that signature Guerlain scent of violets.

This loose powder is encased in a gold-colored dispenser. Once you twist the lid off, you will find the black puff that covers the sifter. The sifter is initially covered by a black sticker as shown above. When you remove the sticker, the puff is the only thing that will keep the powder from spewing all over the place. To be fair though, I never have any issues with dispensing too much product at a time. I remove the puff, close the container, invert and shake a little and I get about as little powder as pictured below. This is more than enough to set the makeup all over the entire face and neck.

Barring the fragrance, which some may or may not like, I think that this is a very nice setting powder. Perhaps it's not so special that I would say you need to spend the money on it but eversince I started using this, it's been the only one I've felt like using. It is a little overpriced at $57 for 0.7 oz. but I used to buy Dior and I think that comes out even more expensive than this. Laura Mercier's loose powders are definitely more budget-friendly but they no longer sell the "colored" ones. They are all now translucent. At the end of the day, I like that this has color options for me. I could wear Beige Clair or Beige Naturel but like the look of Beige Clair better.

If I could offer any suggestion regarding this product, I would say leave it at home. This isn't something you want to tote around in your purse or on holiday. It's too big although not really heavy. For travel, I recommend Guerlain's Météorites Illuminating and Mattifying Pressed Powder which does the job as well and comes in a handy compact. You just get less product for your money.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Quad Eyeshadow in Precious Crown

2013-02-04T16:27:00.000-05:00

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Quad Eyeshadow in Precious Crown

The Rimmel display at my local Target has a number of eyeshadows on clearance as well. (My previous post shows a variety of other products on clearance.) I thought I'd pick one up because I had a coupon. Just for fun, here is Precious Crown.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Quad Eyeshadow in Precious Crown

I picked out a quad of dark colors because I wasn't sure if these would be pigmented at all. I was also attracted to the pretty green at the bottom. While I can't imagine using the quad as is (definitely need to augment with other colors), I thought that it might work out nicely for an accent here and there or for contouring.

Swatches L-R: navy blue, black glitter, purple, green

Although I was thrilled that these did apply darkly (I used the NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base with the swatches), I was disappointed that they all looked like some variant of black. The green pops a little better than the others but when I applied it on my eye without a base, it did look mostly black as well. I think these will benefit from a colored base like a MAC Paint Pot or one of those Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows. Maybe even a Laura Mercier Caviar Stick. Something to play with.

There are some other Rimmel eyeshadows on clearance and while I considered getting one, I put it right back on the shelf when I saw that it was made in China. The one I purchased is made in the UK.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Quad Eyeshadows (various colors now $2.78)

Rimmel Glam'Eyes HD Eye Shadow (various colors now $3.14)

Target Makeup Deals 2-3-13

2013-02-03T19:15:00.000-05:00

This is a repost, originally from January 28th, now updated with pricing for the products pictured.

We made our weekly trip to Target over the weekend and I spied a number of clearance displays worth noting. As always, each store is different but if it goes on clearance at one store, it does up the likelihood that it will be on clearance somewhere else. Discounts typically begin at 30% off.

L'Oreal Magic Souffle Makeup ($10.14) and The One Sweep Sculpting blush duos ($7.90)

L'Oreal Wear Infinite Studio Secrets Eyeshadows (quads $4.33, duos $3.58, singles $2.86)
L'Oreal HIP Concentrated Shadow duos ($5.17)

Maybelline Color Pearls Marbleized Eyeshadow (now 50% off - $3.07)

Covergirl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers Lipgloss (now 50% off - $2.48)

The Target store I went to hasn't quite gotten around to fixing up some of their newer displays. I suspect that they will be moving things around once the clearance items have been removed. I had thought about purchasing a couple of Neutrogena products but was dismayed to find the new MoistureSmooth Color Sticks and the Crease Proof Eyeshadow sticks simply tossed about at the topmost shelf. If I didn't poke around up there, I would never have seen them (which means if you're about 5 feet tall, you will miss them completely). Clearance usually means there will be new things to look forward to. With spring en route, I'm simply counting the days.

Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara

2013-01-31T16:18:00.003-05:00

Guerlain Maxi Lash Volume Creating Curl Sculpting Mascara

Guerlain's latest mascara, the new Maxi Lash, comes out with the brand's 2013 spring collection. I had high hopes for this product and ordered it the minute it appeared on Sephora's website. But I have been using a few new products and I try to use a tube for at least a month before switching, hence the belated review.

I'm a fan of the old Le 2 de Guerlain although I haven't bought a new tube of it since my last one, if only because there are always new mascara formulations to try and innovative new brushes that pique my interest. The new Maxi Lash is a volumizing mascara and it comes in two shades. I have Noir.

I was surprised that it didn't have a rubber brush (seems to be the "new" thing) and in fact looks amazingly ordinary. At $30 a tube, and released around the same time as Le Volume de Chanel, I can't help but compare the two.

Two words: highly fragranced. Like pretty much all Guerlain cosmetics, the new Maxi Lash mascara is loaded with fragrance. It smells like... Guerlain. While I'm not bothered by the smell, it weirds me out that I can smell my mascara even after an hour of having put it on. I almost wondered if that was what I was paying for. Ha!

While Maxi Lash can curl and volumize rather well, it suffers from the very thing that most volumizing products do - the tendency to clump. In trying to minimize clumping, I try to remove excess mascara from the wand by brushing the applicator against the mouth of the tube but I've found that this removes most of the product and results in uneven application. In the end, I just leave it alone and try to use a light hand during application. I do quick swipes to distribute the product evenly. The result becomes more natural rather than uber-volume but I'd rather have that than clumpy, fake-looking lashes.

before mascara

after applying Guerlain Maxi Lash mascara

What I love about this mascara is the design of the tube. It's flat on the sides so I can lay it on the table and not have it roll off. Why did noone design the mascara tube this way before? Enough of the round tube. This is the way to go! However, outside of appearances, it is not a phenomenal mascara. It's nice but so are a lot of other mascaras at a lower price point. If I felt like paying about $30 a tube, I think I might buy Le Volume de Chanel instead.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink

2013-01-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Bobbi Brown's recent campaign starring Katie Holmes coincided with the release of their new Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick. The automatic crayon calls to mind the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks in many ways. The color selections cross paths a few times as well. A very good example of that is the shade Golden Pink.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink

I purchased this before I got the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Rosegold. The lineup of colors from Laura Mercier then didn't have the slightly sheer and shimmery peachy pink shade and I knew it was something that I could use. As a matter of fact, it was the Laura Mercier associate at Nordstrom who helped me pick this color out (she knew of an impending release of new shades from Laura but did not know at the time what they were going to be). In a lot of respects, the two products are very much alike. Same size, same twist-up delivery that requires no sharpening, same diameter and same blunt tip. The rounded tip is popular with some people. Personally, I prefer to be able to sharpen that tip to a point so I can make finer lines but I will not argue that the twist-up system is less messy and less wasteful overall.

Bobbi Brown's sticks are certainly long-wearing; about as long-wearing as Laura Mercier's. Put it on in the morning and forget about it. They don't crease and once set, they don't move. You must blend it out at once. These set even faster that Laura Mercier's in my random testing and if for some reason the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks crease on you, you might like these better. I generally wear both without primer but I do set with powder if I use it on the lid. If not used as a base for powder eyeshadow, I just dust the lightest layer of translucent powder or sheer beige eyeshadow over it. You don't necessarily have to do that but I think that it keeps it looking perfect longer.

The shade Golden Pink, being of the nature that can be used as a lid wash, is tremendously easy to use. Blending different-colored cream shadows is not my favorite thing but these can be used with other colors from the line. You can use a brush or fingers. I find that a brush gives more precise results but if you're going for quick and natural, fingers work too. I prefer the creaminess of the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks. I think that they blend out better. But that may vary depending on the shade with Bobbi Brown's.

As far as color, Golden Pink is so similar to Rosegold that I once stepped out of the house wearing Rosegold on one eye and Golden Pink on the other and nobody noticed. The swatch in sunlight looks exactly the same so I finally gave up trying to capture the difference in pictures. But I notice that Golden Pink is more metallic and shimmery. Rosegold while still metallic, has a more natural, satiny finish. Rosegold blends into my skin better. If I'm not particularly careful about blurring the edges with Golden Pink, I see where the eyeshadow ends.

Bobbi Brown Golden Pink on left, Laura Mercier Rosegold on right
Eyeliner: Laura Mercier Stone Grey, Mascara: Guerlain Maxi Lash

All said, it's a lovely product that will delight fans of the cream eyeshadow stick. However, a crucial point that I failed to mention when I initially published this post is that the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick is $28, $4 more than the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick. As they contain the same amount of product and these two colors look remarkably alike, I'd recommend picking up Rosegold over Golden Pink. If you're looking for something at a lower price point though, perhaps the Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes is the answer. I heard that each stick contains twice as much product for only $16. It's not on all Clinique counters yet but they've started trickling in. Same concept, smaller size, lower price. I think it's worth a look.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour New Colors (Spring 2013)

2013-01-24T16:29:00.000-05:00

The Caviar Sticks are back! It's the twist up version of the brand's caviar eye liner that you can use for lining and shading. On the Sephora website, you'll find four new shades: Sugar Frost, Sandglow, Orchid and Rosegold.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour

I have been told that there are eight new shades in all and I do not believe that any of them are limited edition. However, there must be a distribution arrangement going on or maybe they haven't received the other shades yet because on Nordstrom's website, they have Grey Pearl, Mint Snow, Pink Opal and Seashell, which are all new, along with Sugar Frost, Sandglow and Orchid. They do not have Rosegold. Both websites have the original eight: Amethyst, Cocoa, Jungle, Khaki, Plum, Sapphire, Smoke and Steel. They are $24 each.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colours (New for Spring 2013)
L-R: Sugar Frost, Sandglow, Orchid and Rosegold

The pictures will tell most of the story here but my impression of the new shades is that they are all much lighter than the original eight and there's plenty of shimmer going on. Shimmer isn't necessarily a bad thing, just something I prefer not to get a lot of as I get older.

L-R: Sugar Frost, Sandglow, Orchid and Rosegold

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour Swatches

I think that the shimmery soft bronze Sandglow was a much needed addition since the closest shade to that, Golden, was a limited edition product. It's lovely on its own. Khaki is darker but definitely in the same color family. Rosegold makes for a natural and pretty lid wash that I imagine will get a very good response. It's a lighter version of the Rose Gold that the brand carries in their Metallic Crème Eye Colour line. Sugar Frost is a frosted and shimmery beige while Orchid is a shimmery lavender. The colors seem very spring-like and fill in color gaps. I think they're ready for the inevitable comparison with the just-released Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks (8 colors).

Personally though, I was more impressed by the original eight (pictured below). They covered all the most useful dark colors that really define the eye with those. You can read my write-up on the first four colors I purchased here. I have since acquired the rest of the original colors. I like them because they are easy to use and are long-wearing. If I had any suggestions at all, I would say try to apply in thin layers and build slowly if you can. If you need to blend, do it within seconds of application because once the product dries, it's set for the whole day and only waterproof eye makeup remover will get it off. Other than that, I say grab a few shades, play and enjoy!

The original eight shades of the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour swatches

Laura Mercier Eye Pencil in Stone Grey

2013-01-23T22:10:00.000-05:00

The Laura Mercier Arabesque collection wasn't a big hit with me but I was convinced to purchase at least one product that I've never before tried from the brand. The Eye Pencil in Stone Grey, new with this collection, presented me with that not brown, not blue but not quite black option that I'm always looking for.

Laura Mercier Eye Pencil in Stone Grey

Stone Grey is a cool-toned grey shade. I say cool because I sense a blueness in the base but it's definitely grey. On first application, I liked how smooth it went on. Some pencils trade that glide for a sharp tip but this reaches the middle ground, holding its pointiness (for precise application) and remaining reasonably creamy at the same time. I thought that maybe I had been missing out since I'd never tried these before.

Laura Mercier Eye Pencil in Stone Grey

But unfortunately, this Laura Mercier Eye Pencil was no good on the bottom waterline/lashline. In two hours, it had made a mess underneath the eye area and all that definition I penciled in down there faded away. The top lashline remained intact for maybe 3 more hours before beginning to fade and I did not experience any transfer to the upper lid. I had determined that the only way to keep this liner intact was to set it with eyeshadow.

Compared to the kohl pencils which I kind of expect to smear unless set with powder, this creates a sturdier line. The kohls give intense color in a super creamy formula (that you can also use smudged all over the lid). This is more a traditional pencil liner, meant for quick definition. I was hoping that it would perform very well. It just didn't. So, would I buy another Laura Mercier Eye Pencil? Most likely not. There are simply many other brands in varying price points that outperform this liner and I probably need to stick with a waterproof formula. I like this color though so I may just try to work with it some more.

Urban Decay Naked Nail Set Part II

2013-01-22T21:19:00.001-05:00

Urban Decay Nail Polish in (L-R) Naked, Sidecar, Toasted and Smog (partial)

In part two of the feature on the Urban Decay Naked Nail Set, I have the shades Toasted, Sidecar and Hustle.

Urban Decay Nail Polish in (L-R) Toasted, Smog and Hustle

Urban Decay Nail Polish in (L-R) Smog, Hustle and Creep

I'm going to start with Hustle, the eggplant shade with light shimmer. The shimmer isn't very apparent unless the color is under the sun. In the shade, it has a seemingly grey cast over it. It reminds me of Laura Mercier Twilight.

Urban Decay Hustle Nail Polish

In the sun, Hustle is vastly more interesting. The color is rich and fully-opaque in two coats. I don't think that it applied as well as Smog but I didn't really have any problems with it.

Urban Decay Hustle Nail Polish

I had to retake the photos for the next two colors because the initial set I'd made (when I was wearing these colors) did not have proper lighting. Toasted is that mostly sheer frosted pink that doesn't become opaque at all even after three coats. The picture shows me wearing two thick coats and it was taken in direct sunlight.

Urban Decay Toasted Nail Polish

To give you a better idea of what Sidecar is like, I painted on one coat, two coats on another nail and used it as top coat on a third nail. I didn't actually wear this shade. I just sampled it. It has no opacity to speak of and it's all glitter, two things that I generally do not like in nail color. I am certain that this is meant to be used merely as top coat but I would never take this home if it wasn't already included in the set.

However, if you are into glitter top coat, you will have some use for this. The silver glitter has a little grit, as can be expected, but appears pretty much as shown in the photos.

Urban Decay Naked Nail Set Part I

2013-01-21T12:30:00.001-05:00

Urban Decay Naked Nail Set

I had some free time one morning and decided to saunter into the nearest Sephora. I looked at the Urban Decay display thinking about grabbing an eyeliner or two when I spied the new Naked Nail Set. The set contains six nail polish colors that echo the shades in the Naked palette.

Urban Decay Naked Nail Set

Although I've worn all six colors, let me start by showing you three. The shades Naked, Smog and Creep. Naked is a wonderfully opaque nude shade and I can see myself wearing this a lot. Application was very smooth. If they had this in full size, I would buy it.

Urban Decay Naked Nail Polish

Smog, despite the name, is a pleasant whiff of air. I have determined that this is my favorite in the set. It applies so well and didn't chip or fade in the days I had it on. I don't even think I got tip wear. Fantastic formula! It appears to have a violet base with copper shimmer so that when you have it on, from the top it looks all bronze but from the bottom, it looks purple. I like that added dimension but I love it for how flattering it looks on. Two coats gives serious opacity.

Urban Decay Smog Nail Polish

Creep is black with silver glitter. While that wouldn't be normal fare for me, I find that this is also a well-executed color that I would wear it. I think I like the nailpolish better than the eyeshadow :)

Urban Decay Creep Nail Polish

In the next post, I'll show you the other three colors in the set. However, if you need a quick idea of what they are, Toasted is a semi-sheer, frosted pink. It's the type that my grandmother wears a lot and although I love my grandmother, it's not a favorite in the set. Sidecar is a transparent color with glitter that I don't think was meant to be worn alone. It would work well as a glitter top coat if you're into that sort of thing. Hustle is a deep eggplant with microshimmer. In certain lighting it looks like it has a layer of dust over it but in sunlight, you'll the shimmer and it's gorgeous. This is probably my next favorite shade. The set retails for $26 and contains 6 bottles with 5 mL or 0.16 oz. each.

Snapshot January 2013

2013-01-19T18:46:00.000-05:00

This is my new feature, the occasional *snapshot* of my vanity. I thought that this was a nice way to capture moments and help me remember what stuff I was constantly using or testing at a certain time.

The vanity below is where I meant to do my makeup on a daily basis. However, after we brought it home from the country store when we first moved into our home, I realized that there was simply no place in the bedroom with good enough lighting to actually sit there and put on my face. I've done my makeup in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror for years. Now I just sit in front of a window with a handheld mirror. But I still leave my things on the vanity.

So what's on the table, you ask? Hmmm... let's see.

Those two jars in the back: one contains a variety of lip balms; the other contains Tweezerman tweezers, a Shu Uemura eyelash curler, Anastasia Brow Gel, a disposable spoolie and a mini NARS Smudge Proof Eye Primer.

The bottle of fragrance, my latest acquisition, is Hermès Un Jardin sur le Toit which I love but doesn't feel like a winter fragrance so I only use it when it's a little warmer out. The little bottles in front of it are nail polish colors from the Urban Decay Naked Nail Set which I am using now. The round container with a black sponge is the Guerlain Les Violettes Mineral Powder (the upside-down lid is shown partially at the very front of the picture). To the left of that is a jar of Revlon ColorStay Whipped Crème Makeup with an old tub of MAC lip conditioner. The large tin with little bears on it is where I finally dumped all my Guerlain Météorites into and the jar on top of that is Chanel's Bronzing Makeup Base.

I also have the sample of the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Crème Compact on the table, along with the Undercover Pot (concealer), Maybelline's Barely Branded Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow, Lancome Artliner in Noir, Guerlain Maxi Lash mascara, Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Underground, Burberry Trench Eyeshadow and an old MAC lip palette that's now empty and been refilled with various shades of Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.

The mug contains lip liners, Anastasia Brow Wiz (brow pencil), a few brushes and a spatula. The jar behind it is where I keep some mascara, eyeliner, highlighter and concealer pens. The Laura Mercier compact on the other side contains some cake eyeliner. Other than the Denman Paddle Brush, the ring holder and the pink ceramic jewelry box with the rose on it, that seems to be everything that is visible on the table.

The vanity has four drawers which house a variety of other skincare and cosmetic items. My moisturizers in rotation right now include La Roche Posay Anthelios SX which I alternate with Lancome Absolue. Both have SPF 15. My favorite everyday foundation is Chanel Vitalumière Aqua (liquid) in B20. I typically use Laura Mercier Primer - Hydrating before that and Guerlain's Les Violettes Mineral Powder as my setting powder or for touch ups. When I'm not testing out some new blush or when I simply can't decide what to put on, I usually end up with Chanel Tweed Rose or Fleur de Lotus. On other days, I skip blush and only use the Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder in 01 Blondes which remains my favorite bronzer. I wear a different lip color everyday but I always have some Chanel Rouge Coco Shine on hand. The shade Boy is what I always carry in my purse.

Burberry "Light Glow" Natural Blush in No. 9 Coral Pink

2013-01-18T15:58:00.000-05:00

I always thought that Burberry's blush lineup needed a pink coral. But coral lovers beware. Burberry's interpretation of Coral Pink looks a lot like fuschia to my eyes. When I first opened the package, I literally went "Ack!" as the memory of Chanel Tweed Fuschia rolled in my head. A deeply pigmented fuschia blush is very difficult for me to pull off. And my experience with Burberry blushes has been that they are super well-pigmented. I'll tell you right now, Coral Pink is no exception. It is possibly even more heavily-pigmented than all the other Burberry blushes I own.

Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in No. 9 Coral Pink

The Siren Red Collection (new for spring 2013, I do believe) features two blushes, No. 9 Coral Pink and No. 10 Hydrangea Pink. I kind of feel like they sent me No. 10 by mistake. But since I only ordered Coral Pink, I have no way to compare it with Hydrangea Pink. I checked the label on the back numerous times. What I have says Coral Pink. (I finally found a blogger's pictures of both and they are very similar with Coral Pink being ever so slightly warmer.)

I have four Burberry blushes so for reference purposes, I thought I'd set them side by side for comparison. Earthy is definitely brown next to all the pinks. Cameo pulls mauve and Peony is a pretty baby pink. In this lineup, Coral Pink at the very right looks like a dark pink.

Above left Peony, right Coral Pink (warmer lighting)

I swatched the colors in sunlight and that's when I got the sense of coralness to the shade. However, I have to warn that warm lighting tends to lend all pinks a certain peachness. You can also see that in the photo above.

When I put this color on, it is undoubtedly more fuschia than coral. I am simply very confused. I've always defined coral as a mix of pink and orange so therefore kind of a dark and bright peachy color. If anything, this Coral Pink is bright pink with the tiniest hint of coral shimmer. It's wearable, thank God, and actually quite pretty if done with a light hand and blended out perfectly. But it is very easy to overdo.

So I realize that this may be the problem with buying things online without having seen them in person. I really wish that there was a Burberry counter in PA. The King of Prussia Nordstrom could use one.